Feb 15 Arrive Sydney 7:20 PM. We plan to take a taxi or airport shuttle from the Sydney International Airport (perhaps with our CC friends) to the Marriott Sydney Harbor Hotel. 
We're excited to be staying there for 2 nights (another Priceline deal). 
The hotel is just 2 blocks from Circular Quay (the main transport hub in Sydney) and a short distance from the pier where our ship will dock. We can even wheel our luggage from the hotel directly to the ship.Feb 16 Sydney We have planned a tour of wineries in the Hunter Valley using Sydney Wilderness Tours. Three of our fellow cruisers (from Germany) are going with us.
We will be picked up at the hotel at 7:45 AM and dropped off back at the hotel at 6:00 PM. On the tour, we'll visit 4 wineries, have a gourmet lunch, visit a chocolate factory and a cheese factory. Most important - we'll buy wine to sip on our balcony during the cruise :) The 2 hour drive across the Harbor Bridge to and from the Hunter Valley will allow us to see the lovely countryside....we can't wait!
When we get back from our tour, we will meet our Cruise Critic Roll Call friends in the bar at the Marriott at 7 PM for our first (of many) get-togethers. If we're late getting back, we're sure they will be able to start without us! Hope the jet lag doesn't catch up with us - we might just doze through the party and, more likely, on the way back from the wineries - the wine + drive + jet lag
Feb 17 Sydney - We plan to check out of the hotel after breakfast and board the ship as early as we can (late morning). After having lunch and getting settled in our cabin (our first aft balcony cabin), we will do some sightseeing in the city center. Of course, a return visit to the Opera House, the Rocks, the Harbour Bridge and the Botanical Gardens.
On a fun note, we coincidentally met a couple from Sydney at our hotel in NYC last May. We have been in touch with them via email and they have been kind enough to invite us to join them for part of the Sydney Film Festival in the evening.
Feb 18 Sydney - Another day of sightseeing after breakfast on the ship (perhaps room service on our balcony?). We hope to go to the top of the Sydney Tower for a drink and
picture taking; We sail-away at 6 PM - with sunset over Sydney Harbor - what could be better?
Feb 19 At Sea - Plan for total relaxation as we're finally at sea - love those sea days. We will likely have the Cruise Critic Connections party in the morning so will meet many of our Roll Call members.
Feb 20 Melbourne 7 AM to 6 PM - We've never been to Melbourne before so plan to do this city on our own using the Melbourne free tram from the pier and hop on-hop off buses to see the sights. We're waiting to hear from a group in Melbourne that provides local volunteers to show us around the City Center. They won't know until close to sailing time if a volunteer is available. We will do a walking tour of the market and downtown area, return to ship for lunch, and then more sightseeing around the harbor.
Feb 21 At Sea - more relaxation - never get enough of that...imagining sitting on our large veranda with a glass of wine and a good book. Heavenly.
Feb 22 Hobart 7 AM to 6 PM - We have booked a tour that includes Hobart city sights, Mount Wellington, Battery Point, and Richmond Village with 8 of our Roll Call friends. Were hoping that the weather allows us to take the great pictures we've heard are possible from the top of Mt. Wellington overlooking Hobart city.
Feb 23 At Sea - Tasman Sea - rocking and rolling! This part of the cruise is described as the most likely for rough seas. We'll have Meclyzine, Ginger capsules, and ginger ale with us and expect to enjoy several happy days on sea...stay tuned to see if this goes as planned :)
Feb 24 At Sea - Tasman Sea - more rock and roll!
Feb 25 Fiordland - Milford, Dusky and Doubtful Sounds from 6 AM to 4:30 PM - 
On our first trip to NZ, we did a day tour to Milford Sound. The weather was glorious on the bus trip to the sound, we boarded and had lunch and that was the last we saw of the sun for the entire day. We were cold and wet. It rained and rained and then rained some more. The waterfalls were amazing and dolphins swam alongside of the boat. We were told that everyone needs to see Milford sound in both rain and sun - the scenery is totally different in different weather. Soooo, we're expecting sunshine this time. We have never been to Doubtful or Dusky Sounds, so we're excited to see the differences among the 3.
Feb 26 Dunedin 8 AM to 6 PM - Isabel and Tom booked an all day tour to the Otago Peninsula and we are joining them along with 2 other couples. We are going with Arthur's Tours (not a relative :)) - Arthur gets great reviews on Cruise Critic and Trip Advisor. 
Will visit the Albatross Colony, hopefully there will be babies hatching at this time of the year; the penguin colony that we saw on our last trip to Dunedin - delightful; and Lamarch Castle (another new experience).
Feb 27 Christchurch 7 AM to 6 PM - Plan to take the bus from Lyttleton to Christchurch (where the ship docks) then will be on our own...we've been here twice and love this city. Will wander around, take the tram, visit the cathedral and Botanical Gardens again and just enjoy the ambiance of the riverside. We're thinking of a tour to Akaroa but haven't decided yet.
Feb 28 Wellington 7 AM to 5 PM - Since I spent a week in Wellington last March, I'll be the tour guide for Art (who spent 2 days here about 13 years ago). Friends from the Hutt Valley outside of Wellington are meeting us for lunch and pointing us in the direction of the $2 store where we plan to buy school supplies for the children of Christmas Island (more info in the itinerary for our 2nd cruise). Then we'll go to the Te Papa museum (free admission to this wonderful national museum of NZ) and return to the ship. But I must have a glass of Five Flax Sauvignon Blanc which I tried in March and loved (even though I usually drink red wine). If we can find it, we might even try to take some onboard for veranda drinking!
Feb 29 White Island Cruising 5-7 PM - cruising around and past this live volcano - the only one in NZ
Mar 1 Tauranga 7 AM to 7:15 PM We have a wonderful cultural tour planned with Indigenous Trails. I've been in touch with Des Harris of this company and we have a full day of experiencing authentic Maori culture, scenic wonders, and a Kiwifruit farm. Des has been amazing to work with in planning this trip and I'm so looking forward to meeting him and his staff. Eighteen of our Cruise Critic Roll Call friends are accompanying us.
Mar 2 Arrive Auckland 7 AM - Whew, hope to have time to do a few housekeeping things like getting my nails done and then taking a ferry ride across the harbor to one of the islands...not sure which one yet. However, after much negotiation which I'll explain in the section on Christmas Island, we now will be receiving a shipment of educational materials to take to the children on Christmas Island (Kiribati). So...we won't know until we dock whether we'll have time to do any sightseeing. No problem, this will be our third time in Auckland and we've hit the main attractions before. It will be a new experience to say good-bye to those leaving the ship and hello to newcomers while staying onboard and using it as our harborside hotel for the day. We sail at 5 pm.
